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Sears Craftsman Excalibur Elite Dado blade review

07-03-2002, 09:26 PM

Does anyone can write their review on the Sears Excalibur Elite Dado blade kit. I just bought one and it is not too late to return it. Please let me know what you think about it before I decide to use it denisg_@hotmail.com .

Comment

Over the years, Sears has sold two different adjustable ("wobble") dado sets under the name "Excalibur." The original one, which I have, uses two blades, both of which wobble. Like all wobble dado blades, the bottom of the dado is not perfectly flat, but using two blades instead of one means that the distortion of the bottom is less noticeable. And if you use the "nibbling" technique, such as for cutting tenons, the distortion is eliminated.

The newer product sold under the "Excalibur" name is basically the same except that it uses three blades instead of two. Allegedly, this further reduces the bottom distortion. I've never used the three blade version, so I can't vouch for, or quantify, its superiority over the two bladed "Excalibur."

In my experience, the drawback of any adjustable dado set is not the bottom distortion, but the fact that it takes a lot of trial and error to set the blade for a discrete dado width. The scale on the adjustment hub is approximate, at best; and even if you use a guage to set the hub, the width of the cut will change as you tighten down the arbor nut. It takes more time to assemble a stacked dado set, but if you're mission is to cut exactly a 3/4" dado, the stacked set is less work in the long run.

That said, I use my "Excalibur" a lot. And it excels over stacked sets for odd-sized dados (such as when you are dadoing to receive plywood sides or shelves).

Comment

i also baought the high dollar Excalibur Dado set at Sears. Adjusting the width can be a finger pinchin' knuckle bustin' ordeal. i use my $40 stack dado (harbor freight) twice as much as the sear dial-a-dado and it does just as good.